• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro - square tag
    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
    Our top choice
    $397 $450 Save $53

    The top of the line Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers great battery life, build quality and a rich feature list. From a features and performance standpoint, this is the best WearOS watch we've seen on the market for some time. In fact, it could be the best ever.

    Pros
    • Great battery life
    • Fantastic and durable design
    • Strong feature set
    Cons
    • A little expensive
    • Only works with Android phones
  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 - square tag
    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
    A superb alternative
    $198 $330 Save $132

    The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 makes a couple of tweaks to the design of the Watch 4 to give better protection, while offering a bigger battery and a couple of new features. It delivers a comprehensive offering and is a top choice for Android users.

    Pros
    • Great display
    • Decent battery
    • Loads of functions
    Cons
    • Design is a little safe
    • Doesn't work with iPhone

In 2022, Samsung lifted the lid on the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, launching them alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Galaxy Watch 5 replaced Galaxy Watch 4, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro was a new model altogether focusing on outdoor sports and battery life. Now that they've been replaced by the newer Galaxy Watch 6 models, the Watch 5 series - comprised of the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro - makes a lot of sense. They're older now, so they're cheaper, and still offer a great experience for the money.

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With its stainless steel body, classic look and rotating bezel, does it add enough to the experience to make it worth more than the regular Watch 6?

How do the two models compare though, and which is the right one for you? We've put their specs up against each other, so you can get an idea of what the differences are, and whether the more expensive Pro model is worth the price. You can also read our Galaxy Watch 5 review and our Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review for our impressions on the two smartwatches.

Price, availability and specs

As you might expect, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is the cheaper of the two smartwatches. The base model of the Watch 5 - which offers Bluetooth connectivity and a 40mm casing - is $199 in the US, making it considerably cheaper than it was at launch. The base model of Galaxy Watch 5 Pro currently costs $429 in the US, again - cheaper than it was at launch - but more expensive than the regular one. Given the added features and more premium build materials offered by the Pro model though, it's about what you would expect.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 comes in two size options of 40mm and 44mm, as well as three colour options of Graphite, Silver and Pink Gold. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is only offered in a larger casing of 45mm, and it comes in two colour options of Gray Titanium and Black Titanium. You can see how their main specs compare in the spec table below, though we have gone into more detail on their differences further down this feature.


  • Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 ProSamsung Galaxy Watch 5
    Operating SystemWear OS 3, Samsung One UI Watch 4.5Wear OS 3, Samsung One UI Watch 4.5
    Onboard GPSBuilt-in GPS, compassBuilt-in GPS, Compass
    Lens MaterialSapphire 'Enhanced' Crystal GlassSapphire Crystal Glass
    Case MaterialTitaniumAluminium
    ColorsBlack, GreyGraphite, Silver, Pink Gold (40mm), Sapphire (44mm)
    Display1.36-inch, 450 x 450 pixels1.19-inch, 396 x 396 pixels (40mm) / 1.36-inch, 450 x 450 pixels (44mm)
    CPUExynos W920Exynos W920
    Battery590mAh284mAh (40mm) / 410mAh (44mm)
    ConnectivityBluetooth, LTEBluetooth, LTE
    DurabilityIP68, MIL-STD-810H, 5ATMIP68, MIL-STD-810H, 5ATM
    Health sensorsHeart rate monitoring, ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body composition, skin temperature, barometer, gyroscopeHeart rate monitoring, ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body composition, skin temperature, barometer, gyroscope

Galaxy Watch 5 vs Watch 5 Pro: Which has the best design?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 prices leak, starting at €300 photo 1

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 offers a slightly sportier design than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which is chunkier overall. Unlike the Watch 4 Classic, there's no rotating bezel anywhere to be seen on the Watch 5 Pro however, though both the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro have a digital bezel and two function buttons.

The Watch 5 comes in two sizes as we briefly mentioned, with case options of 40mm and 44mm. You'll also find several colour finishes for the aluminium case as well. Graphite and Silver are options in both sizes, while Pink Gold is only available on the 40mm model and Sapphire in the 44mm option. There are also several wristband colours to choose from, with Bora Purple exclusive to the 40mm model and Sapphire on the 44mm model.

The Watch 5 Pro is only available in one size: 45mm. It's, therefore, the largest of the two, and is thicker than the regular model. It's available in Grey and Black, but the case material is titanium - making it lighter and more durable than the standard model.

All models are 5ATM waterproof to ensure they can survive the elements, and be used to track water-based activities. They are also IP68 water and dust resistant and MIL-STD-810H.

Of both of them, however, it's the Pro model's design we prefer. The lightweight titanium feels great, and the extra ridge around the display means it's better protected against impact. And - since the Galaxy Watch 6 series didn't really replace the Pro - it's still a design that stands out in the range of Samsung watches.

Galaxy Watch 5 vs Watch 5 Pro: Displays

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro hardware photo 2
Pocket-lint

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 40mm model comes with a 1.19-inch display with a 396 x 396 pixel resolution that delivers a pixel density of 330ppi. The Watch 5 44mm model and Watch 5 Pro both come with a 1.36-inch display with a 450 x 450 pixel resolution, resulting in a 330ppi too.

All are Super AMOLED displays and all models have Sapphire Crystal Glass lenses over the top, but the Pro model comes with 'enhanced' crystal, to make it stronger and more durable. It's said the Pro model is 2x tougher than the Watch 4 series, while the Watch 5 models are 1.6x tougher.

Galaxy Watch 5 vs Watch 5 Pro: Features

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro hardware photo 10
Pocket-lint

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro both launched with an updated version of Wear OS 3 with Samsung's One UI over the top, and so they offer a very similar user interface and experience.

They offer many of the same features, like heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring with REM stages, fall detection, multiple sports modes, ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and body composition. All these features were offered on the Watch 4 models.

There are improved features on the 2022 models too though. All - for instance - have an updated sleep tracking user interface to give you a clearer, more in-depth look at your sleep patterns, as well as guidance on how to improve it.

The Pro has its own set of dedicated features as well, aimed specifically at those who enjoy outdoor activities like trail/fell running and hiking. You'll be able to use the watch to navigate to points on a map, and use a 'Track Back' feature to find your way back to your starting point if you get lost.

As well as that, once you've finished an intense cardio activity, the watch will track your recovery heart rate to see how well you recover and give you guidance on how much hydration to take on as soon as you're finished.

Galaxy Watch 5 vs Watch 5 Pro: Battery is no competition

Galaxy Watch 5 photo 8

In terms of hardware and specs, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are both available as Bluetooth-only and LTE models. The Watch 5 Pro offers a larger battery capacity; the Watch 5 40mm model has a 284mAh battery which is a slight jump up from the Watch 4 which has a 247mAh battery. The 44mm model has a 410mAh battery.

The Watch 5 Pro on the other hand, has a much larger 590mAh cell, which is quite a big difference to the Watch 5 model. It means you'll get three or four days' worth of battery life from a full charge rather than just one or two. This fact alone is what makes the Watch 5 Pro stand out, even against the newer Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. It's Samsung's longest-lasting watch on a full charge, and that makes a huge difference to the experience of using it.

Both Watch 5 models use the same Exynos W920 hardware, they also both have a blood oxygen sensor, electrical and optical heart rate sensors, body composition analysis, skin temperature sensor and the usuals, like a barometer, gyroscope, built-in GPS and compass.

Conclusion: Should you buy the Galaxy Watch 5 or Watch 5 Pro?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro might be the more expensive model here, but it will also be an excellent option for a lot of people. Even if you're not an outdoor sports enthusiast, the larger battery means you don't have to charge it virtually every night, and the more premium and durable materials resist scratches and dings more successfully too. It's one of our favourite WearOS devices in recent years.

Galaxy Watch 5 Pro hardware photo 2
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Our top choice
$397 $450 Save $53

The top of the line Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro offers great battery life, build quality and a rich feature list. From a features and performance standpoint, this is the best WearOS watch we've seen on the market for some time. In fact, it could be the best ever.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 offers a lot for the money though, and being built on Google's most up-to-date software with Samsung's health tracking onboard means you'll get plenty of functionality for that outlay if your budget doesn't stretch to the Pro model.

Galaxy Watch 5 photo 1
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
A superb alternative
$198 $330 Save $132

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 makes a couple of tweaks to the design of the Watch 4 to give better protection, while offering a bigger battery and a couple of new features. It delivers a comprehensive offering and remains one of the top choices of wearables for pairing with an Android phone.